Scraper



s. F. ARMINGTON Erm- SCRAPER File LAu 16, 1939 5 Sheets-Sheet 1INVENTORS ARMINGTON ARMIN RAYMOND?) GTON GEORGE E. 'ARMINGTON T R EYs1942- s. F., ARMINGTON EI'AL 2,304,527

Q SCRAPER Filed Aug. 16, 1939 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 FIG.- 6

INVENTQRS STEWART r. ARM RAYMOND o. ARMINGTON GEORGE E. ARMINGTON ATTO NY8.

3, 1942- s. F. ARMINGTON ETAL ,5

SCRAPER Filed Aug. 16, 1939 5 Shet-Sheet 5 INVENTORS fiY MO ND' 522WN3NGEORGE E. AR INGT ON Patented Dec. 8, 1942 sonarua Stewart F. Armington,Willoughby, Raymond Q. -Armington, Shaker Heights, and George E.Armington, South Euclid, Ohio, assignors to The Euclid Road MachineryCompany, Euclid, Ohio, a corporation of Ohio Application August 16,1939, Serial No. 290,392

Claims. (01. 37-124) This invention relates to improvements in wheeledscrapers of the type adapted to handle dirt, loose rock, sand and thelike.

One of the objects of the present invention is to provide a strongscraper structure adapted for -digging, transportation and dumping,wherein a minimum number of parts are required, all of which are verysimply arranged, rugged in construction and so placed as to run aminimum risk of injury to the end that the device may be cheaplyconstructed and efliciently'maintained and operated.

Another object of the present invention is to provide power jacks forhoisting and dumping which are directly connected to the bucket.

Another object of the invention is the provision of novel reinforcingmeans for the walls of the bucket so that the power jacks mayefflciently act through the walls of the bucket to perform theiroperating functions.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a novel framestructure which is extremely rigid and sturdy to stand up underextremely heavy duty and so proportioned and arranged as to mosteillciently combine with the direct acting jacks above referred to.

Another object of the invention is to provide novel and strongconstruction of various parts of the frame and the connecting links tothe bucket and the arrangement of reinforcing members between them.Among the novel features is the general use of hollow sheet metalmembers welded together.

Another novel feature of the invention is the use of a telescoping gateto close the normally open end of the bucket.

Still another feature of the invention is the novel arrangement of therear wheels and bumper whereby the wheels are housed within theprotecting frame and removable inwardly and rearwardly by reason of thenovel pivoted arrangement of the rear bumper.

Other novel features of our invention will'be apparent from theaccompanying drawings and specification and the essential featuresthereof will be summarized in the claims.

'In the drawings, Fig. l is an elevation of a scraper embodying ourinvention with the bucket in transporting position; Fig. 2 is afragmental sectional view taken along the line 22 of Fig. 1; Fig. 3 is afragmental bottom plan view of one of the side frame members of Fig. 1;Fig. 4 is a fragmental elevation similar to Fig. 1 but showing thebucket in digging position; Fig. 5 is a fragmental elevation similar toFig. 1 and showing the bucket in dumping position; Fig. 6 is a top planview of the device of Fig. 1; Fig. '7 is a fragmental sectional viewtaken along the line l-l of Fig. 1; Fig. 8 is an enlarged sectional viewtaken along the line 8 8 of Fig. 6; Fig. 9 is a fragmental sectionalview taken along the line 9-9 of Fig. 1; Fig. 10 is a fragmental topplan view of one of the drag links taken from approximately the positionIll-l0 of Fig. 1; Figs. 11 and 12 are elevational and top plan viewsrespectively showing the scraper hitched to a tractor; Fig. 13 is anenlarged sectional view taken along the line l3-l3 of Fig. 11; whileFig. 14 is a diagrammatic view illustrating the link suspension of thebucket for substantially straight-line movement.

Our invention is applicable to any size of scraper but is illustratedin.connection.with one intended for very heavy duty and having acapacity of twelve yards. Our invention is also applicable to aself-propelled scraper but is here shown embodied in a scraper of thetrailer type adapted to be drawn behind a tractor or the like.

The frame is of extremely rigid and rugged construction to adapt it forvery heavy duty and for transporting a heavily loaded bucket forconsiderable distances at high speeds. The frame indicated generally atH comprises two side frame members [2 each extending substantiallyhorizontally from the front of the frame to approximately the midportion of the bucket and then having downwardly inclined portions IZatoward the rear which support a pair of wheels l3 to the rear of thebucket and the back end of these v frame members is joined by a heavybumper I4. These side frame members as best seen in Fi 2 comprisemutually facing top and bottom channel members l5 connected together bythe side plates it which are welded to the channel flanges. Thisprovides a very strong hollow beam construction which gives a rigidarched frame as viewed from the side. The members l2 are rigidlyconnected together at the front end of the frame by the hexagonal hollowbeam l1. This beam is composed of metal plates suitably bent and weldedtogether. The gusset plates iii are welded between beam I1 and the sideframe members [2 to reinforce the frame at the forward comers. At themid portion of beam I! a triangular frame arrangement is provided bywelding channel members iii to the beam I1 at one end and bringing thechannels together and welding them to a pin receiving tube 20 at theirforward end. This tube 20 receives the pin of a suitable universal hitchconnection 2| adapted to connect the trailer scraper to a tractor, arear wheel of which is ingether fronta nd rear by "and 44 respectivelywelded to them. Mounted on the pin 42 closed in a copending applicationSerial No.

177,518, filed December 1, 1937, by G. E. and B. F.

' Armington.

The hitch 2| comprises a bar I03 carried by the tractor chassis I04. Amember I05 is mounted on this bar for fore-and-aft rocking motion andcarries at its upper end a pin I08 at right angles to bar I03. 'Iiltablymounted on pin I08 is a yoke I01 having an upright post rotatablyfitting within tube 20, a shoulder on the yoke supporting the weight ofthe scraper frame. v It will be noted that the overhanging arrangementof the hitch with respect to the rest of the scraper permits better than90 turning radius of the tractor with respect to the scraper.

The side frame members are connected together at the rear of the bucket,by means of the cross framemember 23 which is a hollow beam of weldedplates generally rectangular in section and rigidly connected as bywelding at its ends to the portions 120 of the side'frame members with areinforcing gusset plate at each end as indicated at 24. It will benoted that the side frame members I2 and the cross members l1 and 23 areentirely clear of the confines of the bucket so as to leave it open andunobstructed at the top for overhead loading if desired.

Suitable wheel means is provided at the rea end of the frame and in thepresent instance each of the frame portions l2a has a plate 25 welded toits outer face and a plate 25 welded to its inner face. Through suitableopenings in these plates passes a steel casting axle bracket 21 which issuitably secured to the plates and extends inwardly from the side framemembers to receive the stub axle 28 which supports the wheel l3. Thisstub axle is held in the axle bracket by any suitable means, such as theset screw 29. Thus the wheels are entirely to the rear of the bucket andprotected inside of the side frame members and removable inwardly and tothe rear when necessary.

The rear ends of the side frame members are connected together by theheavy bumper I 4 which has' removable pivot connections at 3| and 32with the side frame members so that to remove one of the wheels l3rearwardly it is only necessary to remove the pivot pin 3| or 32 on thatside and thereafter. swing the bumper about the other pivot pin. Thisrear bumper is of very heavy and rugged construction so that a bulldozermay be used behind the scraper when necessary. The main frame of thebumper comprises a channel 33 reinforced by a plate 34 welded betweenthe flanges of the channel and generally parallel to the web of thechannel which is turned toward the rear of the scraper. A heavy woodenbeam 34a is bolted to the channel 33 by bolts passing through top andbottom plate members 35 which are welded to the flanges of channel 33. Acentral bumper head 36 is secured to the bumper by suitable bolts 31 and38.

For guiding and supporting the bucket and for efilciently exerting apull on the bucket during a digging operation, two drag links 39 areprovidedone at each side of the frame and since both are alike one onlywill be described. For supporting the forward end of the drag link abuilt up welded plate bracket 40 is provided comprising side plates 4|welded at their upper ends to frame members l2 and i1 and convergingtoward their lower ends where they support a pivot pin 42. The plates 4|are fastened tois the drag link 35 which is a hollow beam formed ofwelded plate and having welded to its inner face a plate which perform:several functions as will presently appear. Rigidly'connected betweenthe drag links 38 and more specifically being welded between the plates45 is a hollow torque beam 45 which ties the drag links together so thatthey act in unison and reinforce each other and at the same time therearwardly facing plate 45a of this beam forms a fixed portion of atelescoping gate later described. It will be noted that the plate 45extending above and below the drag link 39 and reinforced by the beam 48provides a trussing eilect for the drag link 3!. Near the rear end ofeach drag link reinforcing plates 41 are welded to the dra link and tothe plate 45 to hold the tubular bearing 38 in place which is a pivotingmeans for the movable gate portion 48. The plates 45 perform anotherfunction as will be obvious from an inspection of Figs. 1 and 8, namely,they coact with the gate portions 48a and 48 to enclose material loadedinto the bucket which may have a tendency to spill forwardly andlaterally.

Referring to Fig. 10. the rear end of the dra link 39 is cut away as at50 and reinforced by '-a flat vertical plate 5| and a bent verticalplate 52 which extends across the rear end of the drag link and thenparallel to the link on the inside and connected to the tubular member53 which is also welded to the vertical walls of the drag link so as toprovide a pivotal connection for attaching the bucket to the drag link.The reinforcing plates 5| and 52 are provided with one or more alinedopenings 54 for receiving the pivot pin 89 for the piston rodof ahoisting jack. The end of this rod is received in'the space 55 indicatedon Fig. 3.0 and may be adjusted to either the upper or lower positiondepending upon the depth to which one intends to dig. In Fig. 1 theconnection is shown as made in the lower opening.

The bucket comprises side walls 56, a rear end wall 51 and a bottom 58all welded together in the position shown in the various views to form abucket open at the top and at the front end. As best seen in Fig. 8 thebottom slopes upwardly toward the front where it is bent downwardly at58a to provide a lip portion to which a digging blade 59 is. fastened.A'reinforcing member 60 is connected between the digging lip and thebottom plate to the rear thereof and secured at each end as by weldingto the bottommost portions of the side walls 56 so as to reinforce thedigging lip, making a very strong construction at this point. The endwall is preferably curved as at 51c where it joins with the bottom bothto add strength to the bucket and for ease in dumping. Each side wall atits forward end is bent sharply outwardly at 56a and again bent parallelto the main side wall portions as at 56b and across the right angle thusformed a plate Si is welded giving a flaring lip to the bucket which issubstantially a hollow triangular beam. This beam slopes downwardly andforwardly as shown in the various views.

For the purpose of reinforcing each bucket side will in line with thethrust of the hoisting jack and connecting point 62, where the bucket ispivotally mounted on the drag links, and the point 63, where the dumpingjack is secured to the bucket side wall, a strong reinforcing member isprovided. This comprises an L-shaped plate 64 having one leg turnedinwardly and welded to the side wall 'of'the bucket. The other leg ofplate 64 is welded to the lip of plate 56 between 58a and 56b. Thisreinforcing member has the same slope as the triangular flanged lipabove described. It will also be noted that the member 64 is shallowerat the top of the bucket and deeper at the bottom, that is to say, itgradually flares outwardly toward the bottom of the bucket. This gives a'very'strong construction for withstanding stresses developed duringlater described operations. A tubular bearing member 65 passes throughthe side wall 56 and'the member 64 to form a bearing for the pin whichconnects the dumping jack to the side wall of the bucket. Anothertubular bearing member 66 most clearly seen in Fig. 10 is welded tomember 64 and is aimed with the bearing member 53 in the drag link, anda pin 61 passes through the drag link and the bearing 66 to form apivotal mounting for the bucket on the drag link.

As will later appear the entire dumping force when the bucket is tiltedto the position of Fig. is applied at the point 63 on each of the bucketside walls. To transmit the lifting force from this point to the bucketin an efllcient manner so as to lift the tremendous loads involved,additional reinforcing of the side walls of the bucket is necessary anddesirable. To this end an uninterrupted reinforcement is providedextending along each side wall of the bucket as at 68 and across the endwall at 69 so as to extend from one-of the points 63 on one side wallclear around the top of the bucket to th corresponding point 63 on theother side wall. It will be noted also that this reinforcement 68 isconnected to the bucket side wall opposite the reinforcement 54-50 thatthey cooperate together. Th particular form of reinforcement here showncomprises plate members bent outwardly at right angles to the wall ofthe bucket as at 69a, then at right angles giving the parallel portion69b and then bent back toward the side wall of the bucket as at 690.These plates are welded to the side walls of the bucket giving a hollowbeam reinforcement. The portions 68 are also welded to the portion 69.Referring to Figs. '7 and 8 it will be noted that the reinforcingmembers 68 are deeper toward the rear of the bucket where the loadbecomes greater.

The movable gate portion 49 comprises two end sector portions 10pivotally mounted at their yertexes by pins H which pass through thesector portions and also through the bearings 48 already described.Secured to the outer ends of the sector portions and extending entirelyacross the width of the bucket is an arcuate plate 12. The curvature ofthis plate is an are about the point H and corresponds to the curvatureof the plate deflection of the wide gate portion 49, thus permitting themovable gate portion to close without deflecting into engagement withplate/ 46a.

The means for actuating the movable gate portion 49 comprises a jack 11which is mounted on a trunnion secured to a bracket 16 which in turn iswelded to the forward end ofthe channel members l9. This and other Jackswill be mentioned hereinafter and while we contemplate using hydraulicjacks which are well known in this art we do not desire to be limited toany particular type of Jack. The Jack 11 has its movable member orpiston rod 19 pivotally connected at 80 to a bell crank 8| which isformed of two triangular parallel plates. These plates have a fixedpivotal mounting on the frame at 82 and a pivotal connection at 83 withthe link 16. .The mounting at 82 is accomplished by means of a bracket84 which i is welded to the beam I I in the center of the 46a alreadydescribed so that as the movable gate portion 49 swings about the points1|, plate 12 telescopes alongside the'plate 46a. To reinforce the plate12 a flat plate 13 which is also the full width of the bucket is weldedto the opposite edges of the plate 12. Also a long narrow reinforcingplate 14 is welded centrally of plates 12 and 13 between them. Midwaybetween the ends 10 of th movable gate member a suitable bracket 15 isprovided for attachment of a link 16 by which this gate is manipulated.The lower end of link 16 carries a roller 16a which thrusts againstplate 46a. Link 16 is moving at an angle to the general plane of gate 49when the gate is closed, as best seen in Fig. 8. At this time the plate46a is held rigid with reference to the frame and the roller 16a absorbsthe thrust of link 16 and prevents frame.

There are two hoisting jacks 85, one on each side of the frame andexactly alike.. Each jack has a pivotal mounting at 86a between plates81 which are welded one on each side of the frame member It. Thecylinder of the hydraulic jack thus is housed within the hollow framemember l2. The piston rod 86 of the jack passes downwardly through theopening 88 in the bottom wall of beam 1 2 and is pivotally connected bya pin 89 which passes through the bearing 54 in the drag link. It willbe noted that the pin 89 is farther alongthe drag link than the pin '61so that the hoisting jack has a certain mechanical advantage when actingthrough the drag link to raise or lower the bucket.

There are two dumping jacks 99, one on each side of the bucket andexactly alike. The arrangement of the frame and the bucket is such thatthese jacks may be directly connected between them. Each jack ispivotally mounted at 9| on a bracket 92 which is secured to the slopingside frame portions l2a. Because of these inclined .frame portions avery short bracket is all that is necessary for mounting the jack. Thebracket comprises a pair of triangular parallel plates 93 welded to thelower face of the beam portion In and connected together by plates 94and 95. The piston rod 96 of each jack is connected by a pin 91 with theside wall of the bucket. This pin passes through the bearing 65previously described. Referring to Fig. 7 it will be noted that theflaring lip on the bucket provides a space rearwardly thereof so thatthe cylinder of the jack may be placed close up against the side wall ofthe bucket. The reinforcing member 64 then extends out sufficiently toprovide a pivotal connection with the piston rod 96 with very littlecantilever. It will also be noted in Fig. '7 that the piston rod 86 ofthe hoisting jack and rod 98 of the dumping jack lie almost in the sameplane. As a matter of fact the actual clearance in this large sizemachine is only about one inch at this point. These two jacks apply theforces to the bucket and because they li so nearly in a common planethere is little tendency to twist the side walls of the bucket.

Particular attention is called to the arrangement of piston rods 86 and96 substantially at right angles to each other whereby during a hoistingaction there is no movement of the piston rod 96 relative to itscylinder and during a dumping action there is no movement of the pistonrod 86 relative to its cylinder. Referring to Figs. 1 and 5 it will benoted that we get maxition during a digging operation so as to betterresist the tendency for the bucket to tilt upwards when digging. Thisarrangement is made possible by placing the point 63 as shown in Fig. 1approximately the same amount above horizontal as the amount of loweringof the bucket This brings from hoisting to digging position. the point83 down to the horizontal in the digging position of Fig. 4. It willalso be noted that the jack 85 has almost a vertical thrust downwardlyon the drag link 38 and along the line of the side wall reinforcingmember. 84 which pushes directly. on the reinforced digging lip of thebucket in the digging position of Fig. 4.

A bucket guide member 88 is provided on each side. These are channelshaving their webs turned toward the bucket and having their flangeswelded at one end to the side frame member l2 and at the other end tothe bracket 82. These guide members keep the bucket cen -tered and atthe same time form a strong brace for the bracket 82 during a dumpingoperation.

The operation of our improved scraper should now be clear. The line 99in the various views represents the ground line. When the bucket is incarrying position as shown in Fig. 1 the jacks 85 and 90 are contractedand the jack I1 is extended so as to close the front end of the bucket.When the bucket is to be loaded jacks 85 are extended and jack I1 iscontracted to open the movable gate portion 48. The jacks 85 then forcethe digging lip 59 into the ground and the drag links 39 are in anefllcient position for transmitting the pull of the frame to the lowerfront edge of the bucket. The use of a telescopic gate permits a wideopening of.the gate without obstructing the view from the tractor seatto the interior of the bucket. When the bucket is loaded, Jack 11 isextended to close the gate and jacks 85 are contracted to raise thebucket to the carrying position of Fig. 1. For the dumping operationjack I1 is contracted to open the gate and jacks 90 are extended to movethe bucket into the position of Fig. 5. Y 7

Referring to Fig. 14, it will be seen that w have provided a novel linksuspension of the bucket so that the bucket moves substantially in astraight line from digging position (shown in full lines) to carryingposition (shown in dotdash lines). Links 39 and 9096 are pivotallyconnected to the bucket side wall 56 at the vertically spaced points 61and 63. The side wall of the bucket and the reinforcing member 84 formsa third link between 61 and 83. Thus, when the jacks 85 raise and lowerthe bucket, a substantially straight line movement is imparted to thebucket because the linkage just described is Watt's straight-linelinkage. While it is true that the link 90-98 is extensible, yet whenthe hydraulic system supplying jack 9!! remains unoperated (as is usualin operating the scraper) the oil or other liquid in the hydraulicsystem is substantially incompressible and the link 88-96 is temporarilysubstantially fixed in length.

No fluid supply lines are shown for jacks 11, 85 and 58 or controlvalves therefor as these are all well known in the art. It will beunderstood that the control valves are preferably placed convenientlyfor the tractor operator and to this end they may be mounted on thechannels I. or on the beam II with operating handles of suilicientlength. The Jacks are independently controlled so that each of theoperations above described may 'be' independently carried out. Pressuremay be held on all jacks to allow each element to be forced into thedesired position and to be We prefer a diiferential pressure held there.arrangement on-the gate jack allowing a bypass at a lower pressure thanthe other lacks, particularly the hoisting jack, so that when the bucketis raised and it strikes the gate, the gate jack 'l'l will allow thegate to be pushed upwards by the bucket without damage. This alsoprevents'twisting of the front gate when it is being forced shut it alog or other obstruction is under one corner. A suitable control systemof this sort is disclosed and claimed in the copending application ofRaymond Q. Armington and.

George E. Armington, Serial No. 333,526 flled May 6, 1940.

It will be noted that the flared lips on the sides of the bucket have aslight clearance with respect to the inner face of the sector portions18 of the movable gate. This permits an easier closing of the gate andthe lips scrape the portions 10 clear of material as the gate closes.

Due to the general proportions of the tractor scraper-assembly and tothe type and position of hitch mounting, weight is transferred to thedriving wheels of the tractor proportional to the pulling resistance ofthe scraper producing maximum traction when loading the bucket.

In fully loaded carrying position the proportions are such that theweight is approximately the same on the tractor drive wheels as it is onthe scraper trailer wheels so as to give maximum traction and maximumtire life.

When the scraper is assembled with a tractor as shown in Figs. 1, 11 and12, a novel result occurs when a bulldozer is. pushing against bumper Mto aid in loading the bucket. It will be noted that the universal hitch2| (permitting relative movement between the tractor and scraper in alldirections) is located ahead of the axle I08 of the tractor drive wheels22. Steering of the tractor is by wheel Hll which guides also that thehitch 2| is above the axle l 00 so that any push transmitted to thetractor from the bull dozer helps to hold thefront end of the tractordown.

What we claim is:

1. In a wheeled scraper, a bucket having opposite side walls, an endwall and a bottom and being open at one end, a frame having two fixedrigid members, one extending along each of said bucket side walls nearthe top and outside thereof, each of said frame members having a portionsloping downwardly at the closed end of said bucket and there providedwith wheel means, two drag links pivotally connected one respectivelybetween each of said bucket side walls and a portion of said frame infront of the open end of said bucket, two jacks, each respectivelyconnected generally vertically between one of said frame members and thedrag link on the same side, and two dumping jacks, each respectivelyconnected generally horizontally between the sloping portion of one ofsaid frame members and the adjacent side wall of the bucket, theconnections of said last named jacks with the bucket being spacedvertically from the drag link connections with the bucket.

2. In a wheeled scraper having a frame and 'a bucket supported thereby,said bucket havin opposite side walls, an end wall and a bottom andbeing open at one end for di ging, a pair of drag links connected withsaid frame forwardly of said open bucket end, said drag links beingconnected respectively each with one of said bucket side walls, a gateextending across the open end of said bucket to close it against loss ofmaterial, said gate having one part forming a rigid beam rigidlyconnected between said drag links intermediate their ends and spacedfrom the open end of said bucket and another part of said gate beingmovably mounted to cause opening and closing of the said space betweenthe fixed gate part and the open end of said bucket.

3. In a wheeled scraper, a frame, a digging bucket supported by saidframe, said bucket having side walls and an end wall and a bottom andbeing open at one end, said frame having members extending one alongeach of said side walls and outside thereof, said frame members being ofhollow sheet metal construction, and a jack for operating said bucket,said jack being housed in one of said hollow frame members and having amovable member extending outside of said frame member and eiiectivelyconnected with the adjacent side wall of said bucket.

4.' In a wheeled scraper having a frame and a bucket supported thereby,said bucket having opposite side walls, an end wall and a bottom andbeing open at one end for digging, wheel means supporting said scraperincluding driving wheel means near the open end of said bucket, anoperators station beyond the open diss n end of said bucket positionedso that the operator may look into said bucket from beyond the open end,and a gate for closing the open end of said bucket against loss ofmaterial when loaded, said gate having a part spaced from the open endof said bucket and above the bottom thereof and said gate part beingfixed relative to said bucket when the latter is in digging position,the top of said gate part being suiiiciently low that the operator canobserve the loading of material into said bucket, said gate having amovable part of a width to close said space between said first namedpart and said bucket bottom, means mounting said movable gate part fortelescoping movement alongside said first named part when said gate isopen, and both of said gate parts extending generally vertically whensaid movable gate part is opened for digging so that a greater gate, apart held rigid by said frame during a gate closing operation, and apart on said arm engaging said rigid part during gate closing movementwhereby to withstand the thrust of said arm and to prevent deflection ofsaid gate.

STEWART F. ARMINGTON. RAYMOND Q. ARMINGTON. GEORGE E. ARMINGTON.

